Sunday, June 5, 2011

2012 Acura TL SH-AWD – Short Take Road Test

May 18, 2011 at 7:00pm by Steve Siler

We appreciate the new six-speed automatic more than the tiny styling tweaks.

We tend to like Acuras. They usually offer decent handling (the company’s torque-vectoring Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive system only helps), a high level of technology, and good value relative to the German luxury brands. Since the current-generation TL was introduced in 2008, though, we’ve been unable to get over a couple of significant shortcomings: an automatic transmission that missed the six-speed boat—making do with only five forward ratios—and that awful beak. For 2012, Acura has attempted to address these complaints.